An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Halfter

by Friedrich Kluge

Halfter, f., from the equiv. MidHG. halfter, OHG. halftra, f., ‘halter’; comp. Du. halster, AS. hœlstre, E. halter; a West Teut. word most closely allied with OHG. halp, MidHG. halp, plur. helbe, ‘handle, helve,’ AS. hylf, m., equiv. to E. helve; in earlier ModHG. also Helb, ‘hilt, helve.’ From the same root are formed with a suffix m, OHG. halmo (for *halbmo), in OHG. jioh-halmo, MidHG. giech-halme, ‘rope fastened to the yoke to guide the oxen,’ MidHG. halme, ‘handle, helve, lever of a bell,’ halm-ackes, ‘axe’ (comp. also Hellebarte), likewise MidE. halme, ‘handle’; so too the modified forms OHG. joh-helmo, MidHG. giech-helme; AS. helma, ‘handle’ (equiv. also to E. helm), and Du. helmstock, ‘tiller,’ are not connected with this word; see Helm (2). ‘Handle’ is the orig. sense of the whole group, and even of Halfter. Perhaps Lith. keltuvě, ‘swiple of a flail,’ is allied.